National Staff Counsellor

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

Due to the nature and location of their work, UNICEF Afghanistan County Office (ACO) staff are frequently exposed to high levels of day to day, cumulative stress, including those stressors related to their workload as well as the demands related to living and working in multicultural, often unstable, and insecure environments. These have a debilitating impact on staff members' mental health and well-being, adversely impacting the efficiency of service delivery. The National Staff Counsellor, in collaboration with the International Staff Counsellor, will focus on the interplay between the work environment and the individual and aim to improve organisational and work conditions while strengthening staff members' resilience and psychological flexibility.

• Individual psychosocial support for personnel and their dependents
• Host group sessions for staff, and for dependants • Design and deliver in-person and online workshops in Pashto and English (and Dari if possible) • Travel to the various offices of UNICEF (within Afghanistan) to provide in-person counselling support and to run groups and in-person workshops (approximately every 2 months) • Provide psychological support after a critical incident or emergency for a staff member

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in staff support, mental health, cross cultural communications, counselling, and related areas, preferably gained within the UN system or international developSment/humanitarian aid sector. • Resourcefulness and keen social awareness and sound judgement pertaining to common counselling areas of intervention, including, but not limited to burnout, anxiety, depression, self-care., addiction, domestic violence. • Non-judgmental clinical approach, with strictest adherence to staff’s confidentiality. • Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. • Working knowledge of English is required. Fluency in written as well as oral in Pashto is required. Working knowledge of Dari is desirable (not mandatory) • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.